Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 385 Who is the One Who Loves Me?
Zhang Dai was unaware that his captivating charm had unwittingly made him a heartbreaker; he was simply focused on directing the song and dance performance on stage.

Although he wasn't required to participate in the performance, controlling the rhythm and flow of the show under the watchful eyes of so many people put considerable pressure on him. Fortunately, he managed to complete the task flawlessly. The thunderous cheers surrounding the stage demonstrated that the performance was a resounding success.

After several song and dance performances, the musicians from the Imperial Music Bureau left the stage, and Zhang Dai also descended from the stage, thus completing his task for the day. Next up on stage were the entertainers and performers from the Left and Right Music Bureaus.

When these entertainers took the stage, even more enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted around the stage, showing that these folk performances were far more popular than the song and dance performances of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. This inevitably made the people of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices feel quite embarrassed and resentful.

Zhang Dai didn't feel much about this. Just like some cultural performances in later generations, no matter how exquisite the song and dance performances or how gorgeous the stage effects, people still prefer performances with more direct and intense stimulation, such as acrobatics, magic, and crosstalk.

After leading the group of court musicians back to their resting place, he ascended the Ziyun Tower from the side. He searched among the tents of the powerful and wealthy, found the banquet of the Prince of Qi, and went inside. The Prince of Hedong waved to him repeatedly and said with a smile, "Zhang Dai, come sit here. You don't need to accompany the emperor back to the palace later, do you? The polo matches will be held in the evening. Would you like to join us?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai shook his head. He knew his own limitations. Although he was now quite skilled at riding, it was only enough for traveling. He was far from being good enough for high-intensity polo matches. If he went onto the field, he would probably just be a target to be whipped.

"That's a real pity! When you were commanding the podium just now, there were quite a few ladies upstairs who were captivated by you. If you could have displayed your prowess on the polo field, you might have been able to bring a beauty home tonight."

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Hedong laughed again. Li Xia and Dou E also came over from their respective banquets and said to Zhang Dai with smiles, "Zhang Liu, quite a few people were asking about your birth year and age! It turns out you're only seventeen. There's no need to rush into marriage at this age. Just wait patiently for a good match to come your way. You might just become a prince consort!"

The pressure of marriage among Tang Dynasty people was considerable, especially for men. Even those of good birth and talent found it difficult to find a suitable spouse, as their marriage prospects reflected the evaluation they received from the entire aristocratic class. This evaluation extended not only to family life but also to social life and career advancement.

A prime example of this is Pei Kuan, who came from the Pei clan of Hedong. When he first served as a military advisor in Runzhou, someone gave him venison. Since he had nowhere to return it, Pei Kuan buried the venison in his backyard.

When this matter came to the attention of Governor Wei Shen, he not only recruited Pei Kuan as a judge but also married his daughter to him. This made Pei Kuan famous, and many officials, including Zhang Yue and the prime minister Xiao Song, admired him and were willing to promote him.

Zhang Dai listened to the jests of the group, but subconsciously looked behind the tent and said with a smile, "I am flattered to have the appreciation of the masses, but I dare not take advantage of this favor to sell myself for a higher price."

But the best kind of love is one that brings both body and soul to the relationship. If you see signs of it, you should seize the opportunity and pursue it without hesitation. How can you wallow in self-pity and regret for the coming year? The prime of youth and the bliss of being with your lover are worth a fortune in a moment. Those who come after are nothing more than stories of power, wealth, and lust, each seeking their own gain. What kind of true love is that?

His words were so frank and straightforward that they surprised everyone who heard them. While Li Xia and Dou E were still pondering his meaning, the Prince of Hedong asked thoughtfully, "Zhang Dai, your words are so certain. Could it be that you already have a beautiful woman in your heart and are about to visit her?"

Zhang Dai did not answer the King of Hedong's question directly, but instead picked up the wine on the table and sipped it slowly.

The beauty of love between men and women lies in the tacit understanding between them, followed by repeated tests and positive feedback. During this stage, every word, every smile is captivating, and even years later, one can still recall those heart-fluttering moments.

However, if one only treats offense as a test and demands as an objective, without understanding or waiting for the other party's feedback, this is undoubtedly not the right attitude, as it does not truly regard each other as equals.

True lovers must both cherish their own dignity and be willing to neglect each other. Only in this way can every interaction and tug-of-war be so moving and deeply touching.

Zhang Dai's words today were a response to and a test of the waters by the county head of Yunyang who recently transplanted flowering trees to his home. If he receives a clearer signal in the future, he will naturally take a more proactive approach and action.

A curtain separated the front and back seats, and the distance between them was not far, so what Zhang Dai said in the outer room could naturally be heard in the inner room as well.

The atmosphere behind the curtain was somewhat heavy. Princess Yunyang had initially had the curtain lifted, enjoying the performance on the stage with great interest. However, as whispers arose from the surrounding seats, her expression gradually became listless, causing her attendants to tense up. Aying followed the princess upstairs and was given a seat. She initially just stared wide-eyed down at her husband directing the performance on stage, completely oblivious to everything else.

Only after the performance by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices ended did the girl turn her gaze away. She then noticed that the atmosphere here was somewhat unusual, so she also calmed herself down and sat stiffly in her seat. When she heard that the young man outside had come looking for her, she did not dare to greet him. Instead, she quietly stood up from her seat and stood to the side, carefully observing the changes in the expressions of everyone present, especially the county princess.

After hearing Zhang Dai's words outside, the Princess of Yunyang's expression did not change significantly. She just seemed to become a little thirsty and picked up the tea on the table to sip it continuously.

As the performances outside reached their most exciting part, and the audience cheered continuously, the county princess suddenly pointed at Ah Ying and said with a smile, "Lovers are inseparable, and every moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Ah Ying, having accompanied such an affectionate husband for so long, you must have already accumulated a mountain of gold, right?"

Ah Ying was quick-witted and perceptive, and immediately sensed the hint of jealousy in those words. She bowed her head respectfully and said, "Your Highness is joking. I am merely a servant of your master. I have served you for many years and have come to know your heart, which is why I have been kept by your side."

As long as my lord doesn't tire of me, serving him is my destiny; there's no need for comparisons of a thousand or a hundred gold pieces. The one whom my lord would make such a precious comparison must be the finest woman in the world, an extraordinary lady whom he deeply admires, cherishes, and loves dearly!

"You seem to know your husband quite well, even understanding such subtle and unpredictable matters of love between men and women with great depth. A woman who can win your husband's favor must also win your heart. There are many ladies from various families present today; is there one who can make you happy at first sight?"

Upon hearing Aying's answer, the Princess of Yunyang immediately smiled and said...

When Ah Ying heard the county magistrate's relentless questioning, she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. She had heard Ah Lang mention that he had a huge financial relationship with this county magistrate, but she didn't know much about the details of their relationship. Now that she was being pressed for answers, she felt a little embarrassed and uneasy. She even secretly complained to herself why Ah Lang, who was behind the curtain, hadn't come in to help her out of this predicament yet.
"As a mere servant, how dare I presume to judge the ladies of various families! Moreover, I have accompanied the County Princess all the way. The County Princess is an extraordinary and ethereal fairy, dazzling and dazzling. All I have seen is the County Princess's fairy-like beauty, which I have already found very pleasing to the eye. I do not know who else here can rival her brilliance, and I have no way to judge her."

She forced herself to lower her head and speak respectfully. Although she didn't know what the relationship was between her husband and this county princess, everyone liked to hear nice words. If she could appease the county princess, she could ensure that she wouldn't get angry and bother her husband with money.

Upon hearing this, the Princess of Yunyang couldn't help but smile broadly. She then pointed at Aying and said, "I truly believe you are the beloved maid whom your master has kept in mind. Your tone and manner of speaking are so similar. If you were dressed differently, you would probably look just like your master standing right in front of you. You are such a lovely young lady. You are welcome to visit my home when you have time. I would love to chat with you."

Upon hearing this, Aying's delicate eyebrows twitched. Even if she were foolish, she could tell that there was some ambiguity in what she was saying, let alone that she was not foolish at all. The county princess first said that she looked exactly like Alang, and then said that she liked to chat with this lovely girl. Did she love her, or her Alang?
Just then, Zhang Dai finally came to see her from the outer room. The county princess smiled and gestured for her maid to lift the curtain. Then she looked at Zhang Dai and smiled, saying, "Brother, you may come in and take a closer look. Is there anything wrong with your beloved maid?"

Ah Ying had already sensed that the two seemed to be having an affair, so she quickly stepped behind Zhang Dai and whispered, "My lord, the county princess is very caring and attentive to me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai nodded and bowed to the county magistrate, saying, "Your Majesty is kind and helpful, and I am deeply grateful. How could I not be at ease? Right now, I must go to Qujiang to find my family. I will come back to express my gratitude later."

"Brother, please go now. The ceremony is very busy, and it is difficult for me to display my talents. I hope that you can come up with a new poem to sing about Qujiang. At that time, I am sure you will be favored by many more women, and you will be too busy to attend to them."

The Princess of Yunyang also stood up from her seat and bowed to Zhang Dai.

"The river and sky are one color, the water is misty and the grass is tall, the willows sway. Even if there is something or two worth seeing, it is just a leisurely scene in the spring scenery of Qujiang. Even if my heart glances at it occasionally, I will not cherish it afterward. So how can there be any troubles that I cannot keep up with?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai smiled and said, "I do have several new poems, some to appease the world, and some to leave as gifts for close friends. The poems are not skillfully crafted, but only sincere in their sentiment. Please wait patiently, Your Highness, I will present them to you later."

Upon hearing this, the Princess of Yunyang's eyes flashed again. She wondered whether what she was about to see was a perfunctory work or a heartfelt expression of understanding. However, Zhang Dai had already turned and left with Aying.

(End of this chapter)